Frequently Asked Questions

What is Maverick Collective?

Maverick Collective is a philanthropic and advocacy initiative to end extreme poverty in our lifetime by investing in girls and women. Our mission is to build a community of strategic philanthropists and informed advocates who use their intellectual and financial resources to create change.

Why focus on girls and women?

The fastest way to end extreme poverty is by investing in the most promising and innovative solutions for girls and women. When girls and women are healthy, safe, and educated, they help transform societies and lift their communities and entire nations out of poverty.

What makes you unique?

We are redefining what it means to be a philanthropist. Our members embrace risk head-on, demand measurable results, and put the full extent of their true net worth to work. We know that solving big problems requires more than money: it demands leaders who are willing to listen with empathy, to fail and learn fast, and lend their talents and voice to generate impact.

What is your model for impact?

We believe that catalytic seed investments to pilot innovative health solutions are needed to test new approaches, provide evidence of their effectiveness, and unlock additional funding to bring them to scale.

How is Maverick Collective related to PSI?

Maverick Collective is an initiative of Population Services International (PSI), a leading global health organization that makes it easier for people in the developing world to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire by marketing affordable products and services. PSI’s programmatic and country experts design and implement Maverick Collective’s pilot projects.

What is PSI?

PSI brings an extensive network across 65 countries, technical expertise across a variety of health areas, and a 43-year history. Because nearly all of PSI’s 9,000 employees are local country nationals, health solutions are culturally sensitive, address specific needs on the ground, and are developed with local partners to ensure sustainable, long-term impact. PSI’s existing partners include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and a number of Fortune 500 corporations.

What are the criteria for becoming a member?

We are looking for the next generation of philanthropists who will partner with us to create the future for girls and women and end extreme poverty in our lifetime. Maverick Collective members invest a minimum of $1 million over three years to pilot an innovative health solution, commit to becoming informed advocates, and leverage their networks to increase investment in girls and women.

What is the process for becoming a member?

Those interested in joining Maverick Collective will identify two or three health impact areas that most align with their goals and interests through a series of conversations with the Maverick Collective team. Next they will be invited to attend a day-long working session at PSI headquarters in Washington, D.C., which will include in-depth conversations with the Maverick Collective team and PSI leadership and health experts. Once a project is selected, PSI and country teams then spend eight weeks designing the project and developing an implementation plan for the three-year pilot. After reviewing the pilot project plan (proposal), new members and PSI sign a commitment agreement and partnership charter.

Why is the minimum funding commitment $1 million?

The start-up capital necessary to launch a catalytic pilot project is a minimum $1 million over three years. However, the exact funding required will depend on the proposed project’s scope and timeframe, as well as the size of the target country and population.

How are Maverick Collective pilot projects selected and developed?

Alignment with member interests and skills is integral to selecting a pilot project. Other key factors include: acute needs of women and girls; favorable policy environment; potential for leverage and scale; and opportunities for sustainability. PSI’s experts engage and solicit input from Maverick Collective members throughout the design phase of their chosen project.

How do you measure success?

Measuring impact is at the core of the Maverick Collective model. Much like a business measures its profits, PSI tracks the impact of its work by the number of years of healthy life saved as a result. This is done through a variety of metrics used to inform decisions, track progress, and demonstrate effectiveness of our programs. At the start of every project, PSI develops a robust set of indicators to measure success along with a comprehensive plan for monitoring and evaluation.

How do you leverage member skills and talents?

A key part of the Maverick Collective model is giving members the opportunity to be involved with their project and, where desired, lend their skills, expertise, voice, and influence. We work closely with members in the early stages of the partnership to understand how best to leverage their unique talents and time commitment to create the greatest possible impact for girls and women – whether in generating ideas to enhance the project, serving as a champion and advocate for an issue, or activating their network to inspire others to invest.

What does Maverick Collective offer its members?

We provide members with a unique experience tailored to their interests, skills, and desired time commitment across three core areas: impact, education, and advocacy. Members work with their dedicated Partner Liaison to develop an annual learning, advocacy, and communications plan, and have the opportunity to engage with their project on the ground through field visits and regular interaction with PSI’s experts and country team.

How does Maverick Collective build informed advocates?

Members become informed champions for girls and women through technical learning opportunities, workshops, conferences, speaking engagements, and working groups and retreats with other members. We also provide annual media and messaging training and opportunities to author opinion pieces and other publications that raise awareness of Maverick Collective’s approach to philanthropy, the member’s chosen health area, and other key issues facing girls and women in the developing world.